Big week for Windarra

This has been a big week for Windarra.

First is the new paint job on the top sides. Keith, the painter, painted the boot stripe and the cove stripe Royal Blue. Then he masked this off, making sure the lines were straight, a challenge on a curved surface and then painted three coats of Oyster White. I think it looks great. Today I cleaned the stainless grab rails that will be mounted back on the stern.

In between the painting and the sanding, I have been removing our stuff from the boat. It is hard to believe we have accumulated so much over 16 years aboard. I am planning to ship this back on a pallet and a volume of 40 inches by 48 inches by 48 inches. So I marked the length and width on the tile floor of the apartment with tape and started arranging and rearranging the boxes and duffles and tool bags to fit inside the envelop. So far so good. When I am ready the shipper will come and pick up the stuff, it will be loaded on a pallet and weighed. I will have a chance to adjust based on the weight limit. The whole thing will be shrink wrapped and then shipped to Seattle.

Reynold, Selman and Richard are working on the deck. Sanding, filler, sanding, primer, filler, sanding, more primer, sanding and more. This week they took the air conditioner off so working inside the boat is a challenge in this climate. Still more work to be done.

First week in Trinidad

Well, I am learning the ropes here at Power Boats, the marina and boatyard where we have Windarra. Like any new place, you learn where to get the basics plus what makes the place special. Our friends, Ned and Carol of SV Frannie B are here and they have helped me a lot. Besides figuring where the office is, the showers, the laundry, the bank and the grocery store, they have introduced me to the 'roti stand'. It is like the foot trucks in other countries but without the trucks. The Indian food is great and spicy. Below is the meal I got for TT$52 or $7.72 USD.

This past week I have stayed in an apartment for 4 nights and on the boat for the remaining time. Today I moved back into an apartment and managed to beat the rain. This is my view out the apartment window this afternoon during the rain shower. I am starting to move the things I want to ship back to Seattle into the apartment so I can pack it for shipment. On the boat I am separating items into 3 categories: ship to Seattle, leave on the boat, sell or give away. Many of the items I have taken to the laundry room to give away disappear very quickly. In addition to sorting and packing, I am working with suppliers to have work done on the boat. I have not tuned my ear to the Trinidadian patois, but I hope to get there sometime. At least they are patient with me when I ask them to slow down when they speak.

In Trinidad

Wednesday, Jan 11, I boarded a red eye to Miami and then another flight to Port of Spain, Trinidad. After explaining to immigration that I did not have a return ticket but did have a boat just in case, then a quick stop for a Digicell SIM card for my iPhone, I grabbed my luggage and shuffled through customs. The fellow at the X-ray machine questioned what I had in the surf board bag. When I explained they were doors for my boat, he sent me to the customs office for paperwork and told me to stop by the other customs office near the marine before stopping at the boat. My pre-arranged ride was there to meet me holding a sign with 'Windarra written on it. He was a nice fellow, gave me a tour on the way. We even stopped at the only Starbucks in the Caribbean but they were all out of Trinidad cups. The official at the customs office verified that I did indeed have doors and sent me on.

Windarra is in the hard with a tent on top. Now I also have an air conditioner over one of the hatches in the salon to cool the boat down making it so much easier to work inside. She also has new bottom paint.

For the first few days I have an apartment here in the marina. It is basic but it includes a nice shower and a small kitchen and cable TV as a special bonus. Monday I will move onto the boat for a few days until another apartment opens up. Our friends from Frannie B, Ned and Carol, are here as well and they have been showing me around. This evening a watched the Seahawks game and joined in the cruiser BBQ.

I have been going through our food stores and cleaning. Some items went into the trash, others to the laundry room (by the book exchange) and a few items I will use while I am here such as the macaroni and cheese I found today.